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gossamerwingedgazelle's review against another edition
5.0
The subject of immediately post WWII Germany is pretty touchy. I wasn't there, and I'm not an expert. However, this book seemed to do a good job of making the whole mess very real and human. I really loved how human and desperate the characters were. I don't like to read about how people feel, and the book did an awesome job of conveying the tangle of their emotions without being all touchy-feely. Also, it wasn't horrifically depressing, which is always nice.
jennjennsan's review against another edition
5.0
I have to start off by saying that I lived in Berlin at the time I was reading this book, as well as studying at a school right down the street from where most of this book took place (in the past of course but the ruins and streets and a lot of the cafés still do exist despite the bombings of the time that turned most of Berlin to rubble). This may have made me love this book even more and I might have been pretty biased for that reason. I also met the author at a book signing event in Berlin around the same time.
Regardless, I love the story and the history is very accurate. It was definitely a great 'war story' and I highly recommend it! I didn't even know there was a corresponding movie.
Regardless, I love the story and the history is very accurate. It was definitely a great 'war story' and I highly recommend it! I didn't even know there was a corresponding movie.
catrinlj's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
For a long-ish book (500+ pages), this zipped along at a good pace and I didn’t feel it dragging at any point. I would have scored it higher but I have to admit to finding the central mystery/conspiracy a little complicated to follow (and I’m still not sure I’ve fully grasped it!) but the book carried me along with it with such a good momentum, it didn’t really bother me. What I particularly appreciated about this novel was the exploration of morality and ethical questions scattered through the novel. Is it ok to participate in something awful if you’re doing it to protect someone (innocent) that you love? What about if you’re trying to save your own life? How do you decide who is guilty and who isn’t? How guilty are they? What would you have done in the same situation? A thoughtful and nuanced book with a thriller element.
beckycliffe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
bennought's review against another edition
4.0
Overall, a very good book. The first quarter completely sucked me in, but I got a little frustrated in the second quarter with a continuing series of coincidental events to the point where things were a little bit contrived. The entire second half of the book, though, had me totally engrossed and I had trouble putting down the book. Kanon does an incredible job of creating a believable Berlin in the weeks just following the German surrender, as well as injecting a number of very interesting questions regarding blame, right, and perspective regarding the war and, especially, the Holocaust. Definitely looking forward to seeing the movie now, as Kanon himself has said it was a very good interpretation of his book, and that Clooney and Blanchett are actually very close to what he imagined Geismar and Lena would be. If you're reading this copy, I would highly recommend that you read the transcript of the interview with Kanon at the end.
lizella's review against another edition
3.0
This historical novel follows an American journalist who returns to Berlin after the close of World War II. He is immediately pulled into the mystery surrounding the murder of an American soldier after he witnesses the body wash up in the Soviet section of the city during a press event. As he reacquaints himself with the much-changed city, he is also confronted by the fates of old friends and colleagues. The mystery and intrigue deepens as he pursues the whereabouts of an old flame and her scientist husband, a critical asset to whichever government can capitalize on him first.
The style of the book was heavily influenced by the point of view of the narrator, a reporter, and has a journalistic feel. The setting of Berlin shortly after the end of the Second World War provides fertile ground to explore the choices of those who lived through the war and the moral ambivalence of the governments jockeying for control of the German assets left in play.
Merged review:
This historical novel follows an American journalist who returns to Berlin after the close of World War II. He is immediately pulled into the mystery surrounding the murder of an American soldier after he witnesses the body wash up in the Soviet section of the city during a press event. As he reacquaints himself with the much-changed city, he is also confronted by the fates of old friends and colleagues. The mystery and intrigue deepens as he pursues the whereabouts of an old flame and her scientist husband, a critical asset to whichever government can capitalize on him first.
The style of the book was heavily influenced by the point of view of the narrator, a reporter, and has a journalistic feel. The setting of Berlin shortly after the end of the Second World War provides fertile ground to explore the choices of those who lived through the war and the moral ambivalence of the governments jockeying for control of the German assets left in play.
The style of the book was heavily influenced by the point of view of the narrator, a reporter, and has a journalistic feel. The setting of Berlin shortly after the end of the Second World War provides fertile ground to explore the choices of those who lived through the war and the moral ambivalence of the governments jockeying for control of the German assets left in play.
Merged review:
This historical novel follows an American journalist who returns to Berlin after the close of World War II. He is immediately pulled into the mystery surrounding the murder of an American soldier after he witnesses the body wash up in the Soviet section of the city during a press event. As he reacquaints himself with the much-changed city, he is also confronted by the fates of old friends and colleagues. The mystery and intrigue deepens as he pursues the whereabouts of an old flame and her scientist husband, a critical asset to whichever government can capitalize on him first.
The style of the book was heavily influenced by the point of view of the narrator, a reporter, and has a journalistic feel. The setting of Berlin shortly after the end of the Second World War provides fertile ground to explore the choices of those who lived through the war and the moral ambivalence of the governments jockeying for control of the German assets left in play.
marleah_a's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed the story of Jake and Lena and the other survivors struggling with the day-to-day more than the mystery angle of this book. By the end, I really didn't care anymore about the mystery and who knew/did what.
throwerp's review against another edition
1.0
Personally this was a tough read, and in my opinion this was mostly down to the style of writing as the short, broken sentences didn’t make the story flow. I struggled through to the end, but unfortunately I can’t recommend this book.
jdintr's review against another edition
4.0
A solid summer read that paces the thrills and does a solid job of placing its characters in intriguing historical scenarios (the Potsdam Conference, VJ Day). To American occupiers--particularly those who had witnessed the concentration camps--there must have seemed to be no "Good Germans" to be found in Berlin 1945. Kanon found some--so will you.
eisneun's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't really expecting a "whodunit" novel -- which is basically what this is, although more than that as well -- but I was pleasantly surprised. The turmoil of Berlin immediately following Germany's surrender and how it engulfs all of the characters is very poignant, and seems very realistic based on what I've read before. I'm not a huge fan of mystery novels, so for me the end kind of dragged a little, but that's a minor criticism and due more to my preferences than to the author's skill, which is considerable. Finally, in my opinion, the plot seemed to be leading almost inexorably toward an unhappy ending, which would probably have been more realistic given the circumstances. However, most people prefer happy endings no matter what, so I understand why the author went with that instead.